8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Grim Truths Addressed in This Book, November 29, 2001
This review is from: When She Hollers (Paperback)
I am a Master's of Library Science student and currently work with Preschool through 8th grade children in our school library. I have read many children's and young adult books and have found my particular favorites.
"When She Hollers" by Cynthia Voight is one of books I read this past semester that really affected me. This book discusses the grim truths of a seventeen year old girl, Tish, who is being sexually abused by her step-father.
The book is one that I read in one sitting. It opens with the daughter, Tish, pulling a knife on her step-father - in front of her mother at the breakfast table - and tells him "no more". The mother is totally unsuspecting and will not listen to or help her daughter in any way.
Tish also receives no assistance from any adult at school, where she is acting out and in trouble. The Principal's solution is to call her step-father to pick up Tish! Tish runs away and goes to a friend's attorney father, pays him $1.00 in "attorneys' fees", and tells him everything that has been happening. The attorney becomes the only lifeline and supportive adult in Tish's life.
The story ends on a cliffhanger, when Tish goes home to confront her father. She approaches her home and feels the front door practically swelling with evil. The front door opens, and the story ends.
This book is told with a lot of truth and, thus, uses language inappropriate for some young people. However, the story feels very real in the manner in which it is presented, as so many children live with situations in which they have no power. After digesting this book, I now feel its positive message: that Tish found her power and did not give up in the face of so much ignorance, abandonment and disbelief by the adults in her life.
Please read this book. It will have an effect upon you.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Intense, inspiring story of a victim who becomes a survivor, May 17, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: When She Hollers (Paperback)
The first time I read this book I didn't quite understand it. It has a stream of consciousness effect that shows Tish's thoughts over the course of one day.(and human thoughts are very erratic) However, on the second time around most of the fog cleared. Tish had to stand up to her sexually abusive stepfather, not an easy feat. Although one reviewer was correct that Tish didn't show the self-blame or "my family is normal" feeling of an abuse victim, most other emotions were realistic. She was afraid at first to confront Tonnie, and she pushed away her friends. Many parts were explicit, like the language and sex descriptions, but you can't expect a book about an abused kid to be a picnic in the park. Overall, this novel profoundly affected me. I reccomend it to older teens, especially rape victims. If it confuses you at first, reread it. It's worth the effort.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This Book is Amazing, November 22, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: When She Hollers (Paperback)
The book When She Hollers is fantastic. I found it in my school library back when I was in high school and I kept it for myself because just by reading the back cover I knew I had to have it. It reminded me so much of my life at that point and it gave me the strength to keep going just like Tish did. I'm now in college and I dealt with my abuser, too. Tish's story kept me strong and allowed me to finally gain the strength to tell. I'm so thankful for this book and I think any teenager who is being abused should read this... or every teenager for that matter because it's really insightful.
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